falsememoria

[falsememoria]

Cloud didn't move despite the pull he felt. The pull of her heart that beckoned. He resisted. He couldn't. He wouldn't hurt her. Even as his offset black wing draped itself limply on the pavement, his breathing evened out. It took a long moment, but a clawed hand reached out slowly and took her hand. His shadowy skin was cold and clammy now. His fingertips sharp, yet they did not so much as scratch Tifa's skin.

"...I'm sorry." He repeated. Stability was coming now. And with it, memory.

"Heartless, far too many. I tried to lure them away. Fought for days. They wore me down... They got me." He felt like he let her down. Everyone.

"...Sorry."

He felt eyes on him. Someone was there. Watching. He felt the hypnotic pull of their heart. Something in him wanted it. To devour. To consume. He stumbled to his feet using the dumpster as a brace, claws rending chunks out of the steel dumpster. Yellow eyes gleamed in the dark. Thinking was nearly impossible. He felt starved. The next thing he knew he was lunging towards the figure he saw shrouded in the light in the doorway.

At the last instant, he froze. Barely half a foot away from them. His face was locked into a furious snarl, and his fangs gnashed together and slitted feral eyes glowing. He knew this person. Even so, he felt the pull of her heart. But something in him raged against hurting them. He couldn't hurt them. They were important to him, weren't they?

"...Ti...fa..." A name stumbled brokenly from his lips, his voice a strange duality of beast like and human. This woman. He knew her. He sank down to his knees, breathing heavily. Offset uneven wings fell limply to the pavement behind him. The light revealed him completely now. The man that used to be Cloud Strife, shrouded in darkness, now changed into something resembling a demon more than man.

"I'm... Sorry." He ground out.

[falsememoria]

Hearing the story from her side hurt more than he thought it would. Even so, he stayed silent and allowed her to finish. "Yeah. I was there. I didn't want you to know at the time because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to keep my promise to you. I wasn't a hero." He shook his head.

"Zack fought Sephiroth. He lost, then you..." He swallowed. "I showed up. I managed to beat him by a miracle." He ran a hand through his hair. "Let's just skip this part. I don't wanna think about it more than I have to." Shaking his head, he pushed on.

"Later on, I came to Midgar. Reunited with you guys. There was the first reactor mission with Barret, Jesse, Wedge, and Biggs." It was helping his mind stay clear keeping it outlined like this. Organized. "Then the second mission with You. It got a bit crazy but we completed the mission. At the very end, I fell from the plate. I landed in the slums, crashing through the church and met... Aerith."

He moved over to Tifa and sat by her. As awkward as he was, even he could see that she needed support right now. He did as well, for that matter. All of this was strange, and none of it made sense. Memories of things that hadn’t happened, people they hadn’t met, and it all left no doubt in his mind. It was all real. But where did that conviction come from? Why was he so certain it was real?

“Your guess is as good as mine.” He said, feeling helpless, even as he drew her in with a one armed hug. “What I do know is that it’s real. I can’t really say why, but every part of me knows for a fact it’s real. It happened. Or I should say it has yet to happen. Or that it will happen.” He paused. “Wait.” He held a hand to his temple. “Maybe that’s it. Somehow, someway, we’ve got knowledge we shouldn’t have. How can we use that to prevent it?”

“Let’s review what we know. List it all out, maybe try to make sense of it all. First, I’m not really 1st Class. I was a regular trooper. Zack was my friend in Shinra. We went to Nibelheim…” He froze up, hesitating. He swallowed down his anxiety. He really didn’t want to talk about what happened in Nibelheim. “Zack, Myself, and Sephiroth went to Nibelheim. You were the guide…”

[falsememoria]

He felt eyes on him. Someone was there. Watching. He felt the hypnotic pull of their heart. Something in him wanted it. To devour. To consume. He stumbled to his feet using the dumpster as a brace, claws rending chunks out of the steel dumpster. Yellow eyes gleamed in the dark. Thinking was nearly impossible. He felt starved. The next thing he knew he was lunging towards the figure he saw shrouded in the light in the doorway.

At the last instant, he froze. Barely half a foot away from them. His face was locked into a furious snarl, and his fangs gnashed together and slitted feral eyes glowing. He knew this person. Even so, he felt the pull of her heart. But something in him raged against hurting them. He couldn't hurt them. They were important to him, weren't they?

"...Ti...fa..." A name stumbled brokenly from his lips, his voice a strange duality of beast like and human. This woman. He knew her. He sank down to his knees, breathing heavily. Offset uneven wings fell limply to the pavement behind him. The light revealed him completely now. The man that used to be Cloud Strife, shrouded in darkness, now changed into something resembling a demon more than man.

"I'm... Sorry." He ground out.

(Heartless Cloud) He wasn't sure when he'd arrived here. Everything was a jumbled mess in his head. He remembered fighting and running for what seemed like days. Then, everything just went blank. Pain. A profound sense of loss. Something within him gone. Something he couldn't name. Next thing he knew, he'd somehow ended up out by the dumpster next to the bar. He couldn't remember how he'd got here. But this is where Tifa was. He had to get away from them. He wasn't safe for them to be around anymore...

@falsememoria

Tifa gasped at the sound coming from outside. Sure, she was half awake from another long day full of work ad worry, but she didn't imagine the sound of metal hitting concrete...did she?

Walking towards the back entrance, she cautiously opened the back door, peering out into the dark night to see what the source was. Could it have been an animal? A bandit? She wasn't sure.

[falsememoria]

He moved over to Tifa and sat by her. As awkward as he was, even he could see that she needed support right now. He did as well, for that matter. All of this was strange, and none of it made sense. Memories of things that hadn't happened, people they hadn't met, and it all left no doubt in his mind. It was all real. But where did that conviction come from? Why was he so certain it was real?

"Your guess is as good as mine." He said, feeling helpless, even as he drew her in with a one armed hug. "What I do know is that it's real. I can't really say why, but every part of me knows for a fact it's real. It happened. Or I should say it has yet to happen. Or that it will happen." He paused. "Wait." He held a hand to his temple. "Maybe that's it. Somehow, someway, we've got knowledge we shouldn't have. How can we use that to prevent it?"

"Let's review what we know. List it all out, maybe try to make sense of it all. First, I'm not really 1st Class. I was a regular trooper. Zack was my friend in Shinra. We went to Nibelheim..." He froze up, hesitating. He swallowed down his anxiety. He really didn't want to talk about what happened in Nibelheim. "Zack, Myself, and Sephiroth went to Nibelheim. You were the guide..."

That name. Zack. It kept resounding through his mind like a cannon shot. His head pulsed, agony gripping through his skull like white hot knives. The sound of static. “Tifa, I-” He tried to speak, but the pain intensified, cutting him off.

“Grrhg…” He couldn’t remember ever being in this much pain. His mind flickered again. Green cat like eyes. A mocking smile. The flash of a blade. It seemed like his mind would shatter under the weight and pressure. Until…

Drip…

The sound of water. A cooling sensation in his mind. There was a gentle smile now, followed by what felt like a gentle caress upon his brow. The pain vanished as suddenly as it came. With that came clarity.

“Dont worry. Everything’s alright.”

That final whispered voice was the last he heard. He found himself face down on the ground. His mind was clearer now than what felt like a lifetime. He pushed himself up into a sitting position. “Cloud Strife, from Nibelheim. Soldier, first class.” He scoffed. “Yeah, right.” He looked up at Tifa now. “Just a delivery boy.” He stood up, brushing himself off.

“It wasn’t a dream, was it? You saw them too, right? All that… It really happened. I… I remember now. I remember everything. We traveled all over the world, chasing Sephiroth.” He bent down to retrieve the fallen Buster Sword. He hesitated, his hand briefly hovering over the hilt before he picked it up. His eyes took in every part of the blade with new respect. With a sigh, he hung the blade from his back once more. “Aerith. …She died. Didn’t she?”

[falsememoria]

That name. Zack. It kept resounding through his mind like a cannon shot. His head pulsed, agony gripping through his skull like white hot knives. The sound of static. "Tifa, I-" He tried to speak, but the pain intensified, cutting him off.

"Grrhg..." He couldn't remember ever being in this much pain. His mind flickered again. Green cat like eyes. A mocking smile. The flash of a blade. It seemed like his mind would shatter under the weight and pressure. Until...

Drip...

The sound of water. A cooling sensation in his mind. There was a gentle smile now, followed by what felt like a gentle caress upon his brow. The pain vanished as suddenly as it came. With that came clarity.

"Dont worry. Everything's alright."

That final whispered voice was the last he heard. He found himself face down on the ground. His mind was clearer now than what felt like a lifetime. He pushed himself up into a sitting position. "Cloud Strife, from Nibelheim. Soldier, first class." He scoffed. "Yeah, right." He looked up at Tifa now. "Just a delivery boy." He stood up, brushing himself off.

"It wasn't a dream, was it? You saw them too, right? All that... It really happened. I... I remember now. I remember everything. We traveled all over the world, chasing Sephiroth." He bent down to retrieve the fallen Buster Sword. He hesitated, his hand briefly hovering over the hilt before he picked it up. His eyes took in every part of the blade with new respect. With a sigh, he hung the blade from his back once more. "Aerith. ...She died. Didn't she?"

falsememoria‌:

If he were in any right state of mind, he’d surely tell himself off for how foolish and downright idiotic he was behaving. But it was clear logic held no place in what was going on here. He hissed in pain as his temple throbbed as more flashes bombarded him. Places. People. Things.

“I-I don’t, what’s going on?” The Fusion- Buster sword fell to the ground through limp fingers. “My head. Ngh.” Cloud was normally never one for overt displays of emotions, but this was a far cry from normal. He sank to the ground on his knees. “It’s too much. Too much!”

It was all playing through his head, the dreams from the night before, only these were all too real. His mind knew these events. No longer did they seem like a dream, now they felt like a certainty. They happened. He’d lived through it all, his mind swore.

Midgar. Platefall. Aerith. Turks. Kidnapping. Escape.

It was the start to a much greater journey, and much great revelations. Things his mind wasn’t yet ready for.

Zack

Y̨ͨô͡ù͓ ̊a̱͒r͉ͬeͥ ͈ͯm͙y̱ li̥͠v̦i͌͞ņg͈ l͍ͧ͡e̜g̘á̶cͣy̰.̷̬

At some point, he didn’t know when, but he’d started yelling as tears ran down his cheeks.

“I couldn’t- I… Tifa, who am I?!”

WHO AM I…?

Watching Cloud randomly begin to fall apart made her chest tighten. Just what was happening and why did it make her feel like she was still dreaming?

His question reverberated in her mind, as if he had asked that question many times before. She felt like she was floating, surrounded by a sea of green and blue. 

If I could just get stronger…… Then even Tifa would have to notice me……

She reached out for him, her hands gripping his shoulders as they both struggled. “You’re Cloud! Cloud Strife from Nibelheim, like me!” she said, shaking him slightly so he would focus on her. 

It’s time for Reunion.

The image of Sephiroth seared into her mind, causing Tifa to wince and clutch at her chest as the painful memory of that day filled her mind. “But…what…?” She stared picturing a raven-haired man following her up the cave trails with Sephiroth and other soldiers. 

It was Zack who came to Nibelheim with Sephiroth!

“Zack…?” she whispered, eyes wide. The name sounded foreign on her tongue, yet was familiar.

[falsememoria]

Cloud: Who am I?

[falsememoria]

A knight is sworn to valor.

His heart knows only virtue.

His blade defends the helpless.

His might upholds the weak.

His word speaks only truth.

His wrath undoes the wicked.

The old code, Dragonheart

[falsememoria]

Hoo boy. Here we go. Cloud set his stance, relying on years of combat experience. That was one thing Sora lacked. What most keyblade users all seemed to lack. Experience. Even with his own keyblade, Cloud did not truly count himself as a user. It was telling that he'd never met a keyblade user that wasn't just a boy or a teenager. They didn't live long in their profession. Cloud grit his teeth as he parried Sora's opening blow, angling the Fusion sword at a slight angle to deflect the blow rather than tank it head on. Sparks flew as Sora's keyblade slid aside and viciously split the ground in a massive trench.

But Cloud didn't need to win. All he needed to do was hold the boy still long enough for words to get through his thick skull.

"What do I know?!" He ground out as he surged inside the enraged boy's guard, bodily ramming him into the dirt in a body slam. He held the massive blade of the Fusion sword across the boy's chest and pinned the boy down with all the prodigious strength he possessed that allowed him to wield the Fusion sword like a feather. But he knew it wouldn't hold Sora down forever. He was on borrowed time and he had to get his message across fast before Sora decided to up the ante and break free.

He snarled into the boy's face. "I know tragedy. My village burned to the ground. My family dead. My best friend gunned down by a firing squad. I know all about failure."

It was time to drive the point home.

"Remember Aerith?" Unbidden, memories assaulted him and he fought not to choke up. "She was your friend too, right? She was murdered, Sora. Murdered by a madman. Murdered by Sephiroth." He grimaced. "So don't you dare sit there and try to tell me that some predetermined force conspired to get good people killed." He let up off of the boy, stepping back. In a bizarre mirror of how they first met, he held his sword point in front of Sora's face.

"Good people die. Bad guys survive. Terrible things happen Sora. We are all each a product of our own experiences, responsible for our own choices. When two opposite people make a choice that goes against each other, wills clash. So for all the people you failed? Focus instead on the people you can yet save, and keep going for the people you've lost. That's how you do right by them. Don't make excuses for what bad people do by calling it fate or destiny."

"All I've heard so far is a bunch of babbling about Destiny, but that's a load of garbage. I hate to break it to you, but today's the day I'm about to bust up that adorable little fantasy land you're living in." Cloud's eyes were harsh and challenging. "Do my words anger you? Do they sting? Let them." Cloud was prepared for this exchange to get physical. Sora was hard headed like that. "There's no Destiny. No fate. No Fate but what we make."

♕ - “......” Funny. Just what exactly was this feeling boiling to such a poisonous pitch in the center of his gut. Liberating, freeing, for a moment the young hero found himself paused before the eyes of someone who bore down their earnest thoughts upon him.

Exactly within a moment of grief. After all, you can’t save them all.

Much less people can’t save themselves from a tyrannical power that flourishes off the instinct bred by desire. If that isn’t a cruel stroke of fate? Another abhorrent extension of a darker destiny, exactly what was it?

Sora could feel his throat grow tight as those exact emotions were pinpointed and harped upon. Images of a barren world, of the last scrapes of a desperate struggle made by people, the horrendous feeling of finality that comes with the fall of worlds forsaken by the Heartless. So why does the instant where a frustrated voice would roar, where tears would fall, why did some enlightening sense of weightless capture him in this moment? For a fleeting instant would the keybearer pivot upon the ground, facing Cloud fully, those once bright irises wavering at the struggle of keeping a firm clamp upon this agony beginning to break, offering the allowance to seethe, and oh did that very power settled within this heartbound king begin to rupture.

“None at all? Even for those people I failed out there, Cloud?” The guilt was spat with the brand of harness normally saved for his enemies. Even the very winds that once accompanied their surroundings fell silent, repressed, all by the emotion that surged into the majesty of a dark power too impatient to wait any longer. Crimson and obsidian lashes of power scattered from underneath Sora, riveting across the surrounding earth, only for sharp indents to evolve into canyon wide cracks, instantly making plumes of dust and debris make a helpless reach for the heavens while the ground beneath them shattered in a display that craters the earth. Hold on. Hold on.

....Let go. If only for a glimmer of fresh air that matches the vacuum of space.

Your Rage wouldn’t want it any other way.

Instinct alone had drew the Kingdom Key as the clouded skies found themselves dimming, crackling with a latent power, one that exuded it’s presences both up high and down below, charged by that frustration that burned through the heart akin to a second set of veins. Scarlet flames blossomed from one of his eyes, an iris once cerulean falls into an arcane plume of red as it burns, streaking through the air as a whisp, another signifier of the primal darkness hailing it’s opportunity to wrench free from those stubborn recesses. Once directing that lock defying key towards the blonde, for an instant Sora’s jaw tenses, teeth bared and fury radiating from his being in the form of a corrosive aura, one rapidly devouring the life from the space before him.

Only for it to stall, only for that wrath to switch from a magma like prominence to the cold waves of the abyssal deep, leading to the expression upon his face.

“Just What Would You KNOW?” Sora demands as the octave of his voice balances between natural and voracious laces of distortion. Seemingly vanishing from sight in the following moment, his body reappears, commanding the pace from his speed to blow over them both, leaving a tide of agonizing gale to streak over their surroundings with a tornado’s wail as Sora arrived overhead, crimson colored sparks rapidly bouncing and igniting from the Kingdom Key, a weapon that aims directly towards Cloud in the form of an overhead slash, simplistic in execution, devastating with the very power that aims to turn this very crater into a chasm from a singular strike.

Rage. Rage. Rage. Those emotions abided by that command to be felt.

@falsememoria

[falsememoria]

At her snark filled comment making fun of his name and parents, his expression fell flat. He turned his gaze to her, his flat expression pretty much screaming 'Really?' He finally cocked an eyebrow. "That's the best you got? School yard insults?" He rolled his eyes. "I've heard better from a Nun." He huffed. "We're here."

Up ahead they were approaching an older pickup truck. It was very non-descript and wouldn't stand out. Good. As he helped her around to the passenger side, he couldn't help himself. "Listen," he said as he opened the passenger door for her. "I'd love to verbally take you apart and make you cry like a one legged contestant in an ass kicking contest but-" Here he paused as he very pointedly looked at her bad leg as he helped her into the truck. "Oh wait. My mistake. Guess you've already lost that contest huh? Live and learn." So saying, he shut the door and made his way to the driver's seat.

Turning the key, he started the engine. It purred nicely. For an older Pickup, it was in excellent condition. "Did you have any preference in what clinic you wanted to go to or does it matter? I'm fairly certain that treating injuries in your line of work you prefer to have a doc that won't ask any unnecessary questions. It's the same for me." However in his case, unless it was truly serious, his allies at Avalanche would treat him just fine.

It was then a thought struck him. Why didn't she try to reach out to allies for help? Was it that she couldn't? Or wouldn't? It was a morose thought. He didn't want to think about what the implications meant too much. "I never got your name by the way." He said offhandedly as he pulled into the street and set off down the road. "If you even intended to give it out anyway." He wasn't stupid.

falsememoria​:

This woman was stone cold. Her chilly stare reminded him of an unfeeling glacier. But to him, he wondered what kind of woman she would be if someone managed to thaw out her icy guard. Still, he supposed he had no room to talk. He was no stranger to playing the stoic role.

“Not trying to teach you anything. Just making a statement.” He said simply. He put one foot in front of the other steadily making their way to their destination. “If you consider this unlucky, I hate to know what you consider lucky. A knife wound maybe?” He snarked. “In any case, it’s better than lying there in a filthy alley, or tripping over everything along the way.”

At her last question, her glanced her way. Fishing for info huh? He supposed it wouldn’t matter. “Cloud Strife. Ex-SOLDIER.” It was no big secret. Though the bit about him being in Soldier was only half true. He was part of Shinra once, but only a trooper. He never made it into Soldier, instead being snatched and experimented by Shinra itself for 3 years and having screwed up memories as a result.

“Like I said. I’m a merc. I put my military background to use. I’m no hitman. Rarely do I take on a job like that one.” Only if his potential target was a blemish on society. Kidnappers, slavers, that sort of thing. “There’s a difference between a hit and a fight to the death.” Though a kill was a kill in the end, but he left that unsaid.

“We’re about halfway now. Not much longer.” It would go faster if he just carried her, but he imagined she’d try and tear out his jugular if he tried, injury be damned.

Cloud Strife. An Ex-SOLDIER.. Interesting. Nina couldn’t claim to know much on the role, yet the title did sound oddly familiar in a way. Yet another thing the assassin recognized but couldn’t quite put her finger on why. Story of her life, for the past few years at least. Little did Nina know she wasn’t the only one struggling with incomplete memories in the vicinity.

Regardless, the assassin continued hobbling along with him, reluctantly listening to his words all the while. Rolling her eyes at his comment about there being a difference between a hit and a fight to the death. True perhaps, yet in her experience many simple hits easily lead to death matches. No matter how cautious and silent you are.

Speaking of silent, holding true to one of her own titles Nina remained so. Only offering him a small nod in return for his words, at least until she heard that last reassuring observation of his. “Whatever you say..” The assassin just wanted this embarrassing situation to be over already. Any hope she had about making it back to the Zaibatsu without Mr big boss man noticing was dwindling fast, especially as the pain in her ankle practically yelled and demanded her attention. A headache beginning to form to accompany it. Yet she kept the apathetic expression, for the most part. It faltering only when a thought made her lips curve slightly into a smirk. “So.. You’re named after a fluffy white thing in the sky. Did your parents hate you or were they hippies?”

Nina had to ask, that little part of her that adored tormenting and teasing others couldn’t help it. With how much she travels not many names are capable of surprising her anymore, and here this stoic guy was named after dust and water vapor floating in the sky. It was too ironic, too good. Plus the more amusing conversation could better distract her from the pain.

[falsememoria]

For a long moment, as his feet carried him step after step away from her, he considered that she may choose to take her chances alone. Which was perfectly fine by him. If she wanted to go it alone, that was her choice. Perhaps it was for the best, since he constantly felt the urge near her.

D̴̷̻̅̑͛͜é̋v̙̼ͣͣ̏̆̕ȏ̆ͬ̀u̢͍ŗ̱͈̗̄͌͘̕͡

He grimaced, adamantly refusing the urge. Maybe it was his intense focus that caused him to be slightly startled when she called out to him. He paused, turning to gaze at her with inhuman eyes. "Aqua." He tested her name on his blackened lips. "Water. Pure. Flowing swift and sure. Calm and Gentle. Yet as tumultuous and fierce as the stormy seas." He appraised her once more. "...It suits you. A good name." He said simply. Approaching her silently, he noted her clear blue eyes. Even weary, her eyes yet had life.

"However. Water is also easily tainted." He warned. "Take care that you don't end up the same." He paused. "As for me? My name...is... Ugh!" He gripped his head with a clawed hand as his head throbbed. It hurt, like hot iron rammed into his mind. Static filled his ears.

Cͥ̇͆̚͝ḷ̉̇ͫ̑̂ͧ̀ơ̛̰̲̝͈̥̾̈́͛͘u̸̸͉̪̻̝̙̽̽͘͝ḑ̶̵̑͜ ̨̧͈̩̬̙͙̿̄̈́͞Ś̐̕͟t̵̵̵̢̛͉̜͉͈̋̇͂̂͠r̸̶̡̘̜̰̮̘̃͌̍ͩ͘͏ì̸̵̧̯̣̣̮͝f̢̣̈́ͯ͋̎̔̀e͇̻͂̍̐

A name. A name he could not recall. A name lost. He found himself panting, anger growing within. His fanged maw clenched tightly. Why couldn't he remember?! Fighting his instincts, he refused to lash out. "...Call me whatever you like. It makes no difference to me." He turned on his heel and began striding away.

"You staying or coming?"

He had no real concept of time in this place. His memories were disjointed. Jumbled. He remembered fighting for days on end, running and fighting, running more still, before collapsing. Unable to lift a finger as living writhing beings of darkness descended upon him. He felt them trying to take from him. Take what, he didn't know. But they just took and took. He refused to just let them. So he hung on. Clinging tightly to memories of warmth. Memories of anger. Memories of sorrow and rage. He wouldn't let them take who he was.

Then he woke up in this dark place. A place cut off from reality it seemed. With ichor black shadows writhing and moving. He instinctively knew this place was the Dark Realm. After awareness came the realization that he was changed. Looking at what he had become caused rage and anger to consume him. He couldn't go back like this! He felt empty, like a part of himself was gone that he never knew he'd had in the first place! He didn't know how long he'd raged about, carving a path of destruction. It was only until he realized his emotions were being influenced by his new state of being did he calm down with a herculean effort. The question remained however. What did he do now?

Through experimentation he had discovered he could create portals. He found himself quietly watching Tifa from the shadows, wishing he had the strength to speak with her. But he could not. How could he show himself as he was? His objective became clear. He had to find a way to reclaim what was missing. So he returned to the Dark Place to start his search. Somewhere inside him, he felt a pull. It was his only lead.

----

How long had he been here wandering the Dark Place? Days? Weeks? Months? He did not know. The creatures that dwelled here, these Darklings gave him a wide berth. He studied them. They always watched him but they did not harass him. Perhaps they recognized him as kin? Or was it some primal part of them that told them he was an Apex Predator? He did not know. But then one day something changed. It was as if the entire realm seemed to come alive. He could feel the pull. The hunger. The pull to devour the light. Someone else was in this place. Clamping tightly down on his new instincts, he quietly followed through the air on wings of shadow.

He found a woman with blue hair surrounded by darklings.

D̵̤̟̖̓̿͟ẹ̵̵̴́ͮ̆͗̇͐͟͞v̵̧̢̰̟͎̼̺͖̠̈́͐ͮ̍́̀̚͢o̫͙̾ͤ̈̽̌̽ͧ̂́҉̶̷̨u̵̴̼͎͔̝̗̯̗͑̑ͩ̊́͆ͧ͘ȓ̩̖͔͇͈̝̩̪̊ͯͅ҉ C̶͍̎͊̋̂̇҉ȍ̼͎̹͖͉ͅ͏̵̵̀͟͞͏n̷̰̪̤͇ͦ̍͋ͩͨ̈͢͏̸̧̛͘ś̴̡̛̬u̢̝̗̺̫̻ͪ̐̏ͥ̊̃̐͜͠m̶̴̡̧̛̛̞̍͛̎̓ͮ͐̏̾͢͞ë̸̴̡̟̞̙͛̾́ͤ͗̈̽ͧ

He ignored the growing urge. Instead he dove down from above like a comet, slamming into the ground with wings curled. With a grunt he snapped his wings out like a fan, sending the encroaching darklings flying back. A particularly gutsy darkling lunged for the girl once more, and his left arm lashes out, clawed hand clenching around the creature's neck. With a grunt he clenched his fist and the creature was no more. Yellow eyes panned to the darklings that were hesitating now. He let loose an animalistic savage growl from his throat, an inhuman sound like a roar from a demonic beast.

"Back. Off!" He snapped with fangs bared. The darklings retreated to whatever corners of the Dark Place they came from. Turning, he regarded the woman before him with yellow eyes gleaming. Even now he felt the urge. Sensed the heart within. He ignored it.

"You don't belong here." He said simply.

[falsememoria]

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[falsememoria]

This woman was stone cold. Her chilly stare reminded him of an unfeeling glacier. But to him, he wondered what kind of woman she would be if someone managed to thaw out her icy guard. Still, he supposed he had no room to talk. He was no stranger to playing the stoic role.

"Not trying to teach you anything. Just making a statement." He said simply. He put one foot in front of the other steadily making their way to their destination. "If you consider this unlucky, I hate to know what you consider lucky. A knife wound maybe?" He snarked. "In any case, it's better than lying there in a filthy alley, or tripping over everything along the way."

At her last question, her glanced her way. Fishing for info huh? He supposed it wouldn't matter. "Cloud Strife. Ex-SOLDIER." It was no big secret. Though the bit about him being in Soldier was only half true. He was part of Shinra once, but only a trooper. He never made it into Soldier, instead being snatched and experimented by Shinra itself for 3 years and having screwed up memories as a result.

"Like I said. I'm a merc. I put my military background to use. I'm no hitman. Rarely do I take on a job like that one." Only if his potential target was a blemish on society. Kidnappers, slavers, that sort of thing. "There's a difference between a hit and a fight to the death." Though a kill was a kill in the end, but he left that unsaid.

"We're about halfway now. Not much longer." It would go faster if he just carried her, but he imagined she'd try and tear out his jugular if he tried, injury be damned.

falsememoria​:

“Yeah yeah.” He grumbled. “You’ll kill me, I got it the first time.” It wasn’t that he wasn’t taking her threat seriously. Far from it. It just didn’t scare him. As a merc, he could die anytime. “Rain check. Like I said before. If you want to kick my ass, we can fight it out all you like once you’re better.” He shook his head as he dialed a number in his phone. “Wouldn’t be the first time I got my ass kicked by a woman.” He grumbled under his breath, thinking of his oldest and dearest friend Tifa. Anytime they sparred it was always one hell of a fight. He had the distinct feeling that this stubborn woman he was supporting would be no different, only far more lethal.

“Just a second.” Putting the phone to his ear he waited for the line to be picked up. “Yeah, it’s me. I need a ride. What? No, nothing like that. I’m fine. No, I’ll drive. I’m located at…” He glanced up at a street sign before rattling off their location. “Leave it a few blocks from here. I’ll be there shortly. Yeah, thanks.” Hanging up, he sighed heavily. Contacting his allies in Avalanche to send over a ride on short notice meant he owed them now.

“It’s this way. They’re gonna drop off our ride for us and get out of dodge before we get there. It’ll be waiting for us.” Pocketing his phone, he adjusted his grip a bit to keep her weight off her bad leg. He decided to try and fill the silence with conversation as they moved. Even if it ended up being one sided, at least it might keep her mind off the pain. She could hide it all she liked. He knew she had to be in considerable pain if she couldn’t even walk. “I’m guessing you don’t make a habit of falling into an alley like that. If you’re half as skilled as I think you are, I’m willing to bet it was a freak accident.”

He eyed her from the corner of her eye. “Some of the most skilled people in the world have died from much less, from stupid things like loose ground giving way in a fight, creating an opening for a novice enemy to finish you. I’d count myself lucky.”

All Nina offered the seemingly generous stranger wasn’t any form of thanks or appreciation, instead at first all she did was shoot yet another one of her cold looks in his direction. A look known for freezing most in fear. A look that even had her own CEO, ruler of a sovereign nation boss uneasy once or twice. And yet thus far it seemed none of her threats or usual intimidation tactics had any effect of this man..

On top of that, what assassin - or whatever the hell he called himself for that matter - had allies willing to do such a favor? In her experience, even the closest thing she had to allies required a few threats or blackmail to do her bidding.. Outside Jin and her coworker Eddy of course… Who the hell was this guy?

Before Nina could ponder the thought further however, she found the guy once again directing comments her way. It almost sounded like he was trying to give her advice, when little did he know he was just preaching to the choir. His supposed wise words were nothing the assassin didn’t already know. A little too well at that.

“Really..? Because here ever since I fell and you showed up, I’ve been considering this one of the unluckiest days of my life.” Once again, another snarky retort left her lips while she did her best to walk beside him. However, she soon figured the same thing he did.. silence would just make this few blocks journey painfully awkward. No matter how much she’d prefer a lack of prying questions and comments..

So, her words were eventually followed by a sigh. Although with her current level of pain, it more so came out as a huff. Her eyes glancing elsewhere as if even giving into the idea of making conversation with this man right now, in her current state, was just as demeaning as letting him help her. “You don’t need to remind me, I’ve been in more than my fair share of fights.. trust me there is nothing you can teach me on the subject..”

At the very least, he clearly didn’t have a clue who he had an arm around right now. The dubbed Mother of all Assassins herself, frequent The King of Iron Fist tournaments celebrity.. and he didn’t have a clue. Good.

But equally so, Nina still had no clue who he was either.. should things go awry, it would be wise to at least gather some info she supposed. As disinterested as she was, her eyes landed on him again a few moments later. “But.. you could tell me if my rescuer has a name…”

[falsememoria]

Her comment made him snort derisively. As if she had the first clue. He felt the anger brewing. The unnatural wrath inside wanting to be let out for her daring to assume-

Grimacing, he squashed those feelings harshly. Such rage was unnatural. She was not to blame, nor was she wholly incorrect. Not for the first time he grit his teeth, willing himself to not listen to those foreign urges. He was no beast. At least, not completely anyway. Like this, he may very well be more beast than human.

"...Maybe so." He said, his voice raspy and dual layered with inhuman vocals. "But at least some part of me feels like I belong." Turning, he gestures to the wretched landscape around them. "This place, this world... It feels as natural to me as breathing air is to you." Yellow gleaming eyes observed her once more. "Seems to affect you differently." He noted.

Turning away from her, he looked out over the world, wishing he could pinpoint that part of himself he knew he was missing. What he wanted back is very dearly. "...My advice? Stay close to me. Or don't. Your call. The Darklings won't actively attack you as long as you're near me. They're ruled by instinct." He looked over his shoulder at her. "To them, I'm a predator. That won't stop some of the older one's though."

He started walking in the general direction of the vague pull he felt. "Do whatever you want." He said simply.

He had no real concept of time in this place. His memories were disjointed. Jumbled. He remembered fighting for days on end, running and fighting, running more still, before collapsing. Unable to lift a finger as living writhing beings of darkness descended upon him. He felt them trying to take from him. Take what, he didn't know. But they just took and took. He refused to just let them. So he hung on. Clinging tightly to memories of warmth. Memories of anger. Memories of sorrow and rage. He wouldn't let them take who he was.

Then he woke up in this dark place. A place cut off from reality it seemed. With ichor black shadows writhing and moving. He instinctively knew this place was the Dark Realm. After awareness came the realization that he was changed. Looking at what he had become caused rage and anger to consume him. He couldn't go back like this! He felt empty, like a part of himself was gone that he never knew he'd had in the first place! He didn't know how long he'd raged about, carving a path of destruction. It was only until he realized his emotions were being influenced by his new state of being did he calm down with a herculean effort. The question remained however. What did he do now?

Through experimentation he had discovered he could create portals. He found himself quietly watching Tifa from the shadows, wishing he had the strength to speak with her. But he could not. How could he show himself as he was? His objective became clear. He had to find a way to reclaim what was missing. So he returned to the Dark Place to start his search. Somewhere inside him, he felt a pull. It was his only lead.

----

How long had he been here wandering the Dark Place? Days? Weeks? Months? He did not know. The creatures that dwelled here, these Darklings gave him a wide berth. He studied them. They always watched him but they did not harass him. Perhaps they recognized him as kin? Or was it some primal part of them that told them he was an Apex Predator? He did not know. But then one day something changed. It was as if the entire realm seemed to come alive. He could feel the pull. The hunger. The pull to devour the light. Someone else was in this place. Clamping tightly down on his new instincts, he quietly followed through the air on wings of shadow.

He found a woman with blue hair surrounded by darklings.

D̵̤̟̖̓̿͟ẹ̵̵̴́ͮ̆͗̇͐͟͞v̵̧̢̰̟͎̼̺͖̠̈́͐ͮ̍́̀̚͢o̫͙̾ͤ̈̽̌̽ͧ̂́҉̶̷̨u̵̴̼͎͔̝̗̯̗͑̑ͩ̊́͆ͧ͘ȓ̩̖͔͇͈̝̩̪̊ͯͅ҉ C̶͍̎͊̋̂̇҉ȍ̼͎̹͖͉ͅ͏̵̵̀͟͞͏n̷̰̪̤͇ͦ̍͋ͩͨ̈͢͏̸̧̛͘ś̴̡̛̬u̢̝̗̺̫̻ͪ̐̏ͥ̊̃̐͜͠m̶̴̡̧̛̛̞̍͛̎̓ͮ͐̏̾͢͞ë̸̴̡̟̞̙͛̾́ͤ͗̈̽ͧ

He ignored the growing urge. Instead he dove down from above like a comet, slamming into the ground with wings curled. With a grunt he snapped his wings out like a fan, sending the encroaching darklings flying back. A particularly gutsy darkling lunged for the girl once more, and his left arm lashes out, clawed hand clenching around the creature's neck. With a grunt he clenched his fist and the creature was no more. Yellow eyes panned to the darklings that were hesitating now. He let loose an animalistic savage growl from his throat, an inhuman sound like a roar from a demonic beast.

"Back. Off!" He snapped with fangs bared. The darklings retreated to whatever corners of the Dark Place they came from. Turning, he regarded the woman before him with yellow eyes gleaming. Even now he felt the urge. Sensed the heart within. He ignored it.

"You don't belong here." He said simply.

[falsememoria]

He had no real concept of time in this place. His memories were disjointed. Jumbled. He remembered fighting for days on end, running and fighting, running more still, before collapsing. Unable to lift a finger as living writhing beings of darkness descended upon him. He felt them trying to take from him. Take what, he didn't know. But they just took and took. He refused to just let them. So he hung on. Clinging tightly to memories of warmth. Memories of anger. Memories of sorrow and rage. He wouldn't let them take who he was.

Then he woke up in this dark place. A place cut off from reality it seemed. With ichor black shadows writhing and moving. He instinctively knew this place was the Dark Realm. After awareness came the realization that he was changed. Looking at what he had become caused rage and anger to consume him. He couldn't go back like this! He felt empty, like a part of himself was gone that he never knew he'd had in the first place! He didn't know how long he'd raged about, carving a path of destruction. It was only until he realized his emotions were being influenced by his new state of being did he calm down with a herculean effort. The question remained however. What did he do now?

Through experimentation he had discovered he could create portals. He found himself quietly watching Tifa from the shadows, wishing he had the strength to speak with her. But he could not. How could he show himself as he was? His objective became clear. He had to find a way to reclaim what was missing. So he returned to the Dark Place to start his search. Somewhere inside him, he felt a pull. It was his only lead.

----

How long had he been here wandering the Dark Place? Days? Weeks? Months? He did not know. The creatures that dwelled here, these Darklings gave him a wide berth. He studied them. They always watched him but they did not harass him. Perhaps they recognized him as kin? Or was it some primal part of them that told them he was an Apex Predator? He did not know. But then one day something changed. It was as if the entire realm seemed to come alive. He could feel the pull. The hunger. The pull to devour the light. Someone else was in this place. Clamping tightly down on his new instincts, he quietly followed through the air on wings of shadow.

He found a woman with blue hair surrounded by darklings.

D̵̤̟̖̓̿͟ẹ̵̵̴́ͮ̆͗̇͐͟͞v̵̧̢̰̟͎̼̺͖̠̈́͐ͮ̍́̀̚͢o̫͙̾ͤ̈̽̌̽ͧ̂́҉̶̷̨u̵̴̼͎͔̝̗̯̗͑̑ͩ̊́͆ͧ͘ȓ̩̖͔͇͈̝̩̪̊ͯͅ҉ C̶͍̎͊̋̂̇҉ȍ̼͎̹͖͉ͅ͏̵̵̀͟͞͏n̷̰̪̤͇ͦ̍͋ͩͨ̈͢͏̸̧̛͘ś̴̡̛̬u̢̝̗̺̫̻ͪ̐̏ͥ̊̃̐͜͠m̶̴̡̧̛̛̞̍͛̎̓ͮ͐̏̾͢͞ë̸̴̡̟̞̙͛̾́ͤ͗̈̽ͧ

He ignored the growing urge. Instead he dove down from above like a comet, slamming into the ground with wings curled. With a grunt he snapped his wings out like a fan, sending the encroaching darklings flying back. A particularly gutsy darkling lunged for the girl once more, and his left arm lashes out, clawed hand clenching around the creature's neck. With a grunt he clenched his fist and the creature was no more. Yellow eyes panned to the darklings that were hesitating now. He let loose an animalistic savage growl from his throat, an inhuman sound like a roar from a demonic beast.

"Back. Off!" He snapped with fangs bared. The darklings retreated to whatever corners of the Dark Place they came from. Turning, he regarded the woman before him with yellow eyes gleaming. Even now he felt the urge. Sensed the heart within. He ignored it.

"You don't belong here." He said simply.

[falsememoria]

CAT EYES

[falsememoria]

“Yeah yeah.” He grumbled. “You’ll kill me, I got it the first time.” It wasn’t that he wasn’t taking her threat seriously. Far from it. It just didn’t scare him. As a merc, he could die anytime. “Rain check. Like I said before. If you want to kick my ass, we can fight it out all you like once you’re better.” He shook his head as he dialed a number in his phone. “Wouldn’t be the first time I got my ass kicked by a woman.” He grumbled under his breath, thinking of his oldest and dearest friend Tifa. Anytime they sparred it was always one hell of a fight. He had the distinct feeling that this stubborn woman he was supporting would be no different, only far more lethal.

“Just a second.” Putting the phone to his ear he waited for the line to be picked up. “Yeah, it’s me. I need a ride. What? No, nothing like that. I’m fine. No, I’ll drive. I’m located at...” He glanced up at a street sign before rattling off their location. “Leave it a few blocks from here. I’ll be there shortly. Yeah, thanks.” Hanging up, he sighed heavily. Contacting his allies in Avalanche to send over a ride on short notice meant he owed them now.

“It’s this way. They’re gonna drop off our ride for us and get out of dodge before we get there. It’ll be waiting for us.” Pocketing his phone, he adjusted his grip a bit to keep her weight off her bad leg. He decided to try and fill the silence with conversation as they moved. Even if it ended up being one sided, at least it might keep her mind off the pain. She could hide it all she liked. He knew she had to be in considerable pain if she couldn’t even walk. “I’m guessing you don’t make a habit of falling into an alley like that. If you’re half as skilled as I think you are, I’m willing to bet it was a freak accident.”

He eyed her from the corner of her eye. “Some of the most skilled people in the world have died from much less, from stupid things like loose ground giving way in a fight, creating an opening for a novice enemy to finish you. I’d count myself lucky.”

falsememoria​:

Despite the situation, he couldn’t help but find himself impressed. She could snark with the best of them, and spit verbal barbs that would have weak willed people cowering. But this wasn’t the time to admire her tenacity. He had to figure out where they were going.

“You had a back up plan just in case, right?” He said as he kept them moving step by step. He was careful to keep her bad foot off the ground as best he could. “Or you want I should call a cab? I doubt you’ll just hop into my truck, even if it is the most convenient option.” She wasn’t the only one capable of sarcasm.

“And I have a hunch it’d be a cold day in hell before you let me touch your bike.” He was quiet, contemplating. “I may be able to get us a ride, but do you have a place to go?”

He paused their movement a moment to awkwardly pull out his phone. Not easy when trying hard to keep someone’s bad foot from bearing any weight. “I have a contact I can get in touch with to take us where you need to go, but it’s your call.”

A back up plan? Of course Nina had one, she may be confident, but she was no fool. She had a back up plan for if she got caught, shot, bike was stolen, the works. Just one problem. Unfortunately, all of them involved her being able to at least walk.

As for a place to go, again the answer was yes. Usually her response would be a hotel, one she would have no qualms about checking out and into another should anyone find out that’s where she was staying. However, the past year had been unique in a number of ways. She actually had a home, however temporary. Her own quarters for once. An apartment… at the Mishima Zaibatsu. Also known as the one place she’d absolutely die if escorted back to injured. Jin would have her head, not just for going against his wishes, but the breach of security, secrecy… Nina was second to the CEO Jin Kazama himself, yet that didn’t change how the identities of those who worked there were kept as hush hush as possible.

Hell would freeze over before she’d let him or any stranger take her there.

Reluctantly, the blonde woman adjusted her stance to the best of her ability as the man helping her up fumbled around for his phone. An unimpressed and frigid look still painted on her face. “Look, wannabe hero boy.. Whether your truck or a cab, just drop me off at a clinic or something and I’ll find my way home from there.”

Then she sighed, before adding. “And fair warning, the only reason I’d mind getting in whatever rundown truck you own is because that would mean putting up with you longer.. Sprained ankle or not, if you try anything, you’ll be dead before you can even say sorry..”

[falsememoria]

Despite the situation, he couldn't help but find himself impressed. She could snark with the best of them, and spit verbal barbs that would have weak willed people cowering. But this wasn't the time to admire her tenacity. He had to figure out where they were going.

"You had a back up plan just in case, right?" He said as he kept them moving step by step. He was careful to keep her bad foot off the ground as best he could. "Or you want I should call a cab? I doubt you'll just hop into my truck, even if it is the most convenient option." She wasn't the only one capable of sarcasm.

"And I have a hunch it'd be a cold day in hell before you let me touch your bike." He was quiet, contemplating. "I may be able to get us a ride, but do you have a place to go?"

He paused their movement a moment to awkwardly pull out his phone. Not easy when trying hard to keep someone's bad foot from bearing any weight. "I have a contact I can get in touch with to take us where you need to go, but it's your call."

falsememoria​:

For one moment, Cloud actually wondered why he was bothering. He was a mercenary, he didn’t consider himself the big damn hero type. So why? ‘Oh yeah.’ He thought. ‘It’s because I’m not jackass enough to walk away when someone is hurt right in front of me.’ He ran his hand down his face in exasperation, before pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing heavily.

“Say that again when I can’t knock you down with a pillow.” He snarked. “Look, let’s try this again.” He said as he followed her slow attempts to move. “If you keep going like this you may make it worse and end up crippling yourself. Permanent damage. Is that what you want?” He paused a moment to pick up his sword and return it to its place upon his back. “A permanent limp? Hobbled for the rest of your life? Because that’s where you’re headed if you keep trying to walk on it.”

He grit his teeth in frustration.

“Fine. Screw it.” He snapped as he moved over to her weak side and put her arm over his shoulder so that she could brace herself on him and keep her weight off of her ankle. He held her upright and steady as best he could. “If you want to break my bones, fine. Save it for later, we can fight it out for all I care. Or we can never see each other again, whatever. Now which way are we going?”

Nina only offered this man a mere roll of her eyes as she continued to push her luck with her.. admittedly very slowed escape. Continuing the make it a few pain filled steps away, before resting against the wall for a few seconds pattern, no matter how agonizing even this was getting. She just grit her teeth and held in the pain. The only noise she let escape, was in the form of one of her typical snarky comments. “Don’t you have anyone else to go scold..?”

However, it seems she wouldn’t receive an answer, as suddenly she found the man at her side. “I said I’m fucking fine, now- H-Hey! Let go!” Forcing her arm around him, and even cutting off her protests. Leading to an ice laced silence, those crystal blue eyes of hers piercing his own and determined to intimidate him into her release. Who the hell did this guy think he is?

Nina Williams was never one to accept help, at least not easily, since in her experience that help almost always came at a price. Usually a trap, or some sort of betrayal lied in her future whenever she risked taking help offered her way. Thus needless to say, she expected nothing less in this case either. It’s no wonder why she was less than compliant with this turn of events.

At the very least, she soon broke the frigid silence. Yet again, instead of a thank you, or even a simple fine, all she offered him was another one of her cold sarcastic comments. “Well gee, I don’t know. My bike is a couple blocks away, but you’re the one who nixed that option.”